Episode Details

Australia’s PM is pushing back against calls to slash tobacco taxes by 80%, warning it could fuel smoking—not curb crime. While the government has raised taxes 34% since 2022, critics say it’s spawned a booming black market, linked to violent attacks on vape shops. The PM argues legal cigarettes shouldn’t be cheaper and urges states to crack down on illegal sales. Opponents counter that keeping prices high lets organized crime thrive, citing Canada’s past tax cuts that eventually lowered smoking rates. With no data from the opposition’s plan and conflicting priorities around health, safety, and revenue, this debate shows how tangled policy can get when public good clashes with profit and power.

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